The Issue of an Imbalance between Electricity Production and Consumption in Iran and the Role of Energy-Literate Citizens in Achieving Optimal Consumption

An energy-literate citizen is a critical agent in leveraging social and technological innovations in the governance of the electricity industry to address conflicts and alter consumption patterns. In this article, we have assessed the cognitive (awareness), emotional (decision-making based on value criteria), and behavioral (savings) dimensions of energy literacy and elucidated its evolution at the national level.
The data was collected using the survey method and questionnaire technique, and the data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariate regression.
The results indicate that the average level of awareness among citizens in the field of electricity on the spectrum (0-10) is 5.41. The significance of value criteria in the decision to consume electricity is 6.74, and save behaviors are 7.59. The quantity of each variable varies depending on the background variables, but there is a significant relationship between the dimensions. In this manner, the significance of value criteria in consumption has increased as a result of the rise in awareness, and the combination of these two factors has been effective in promoting thrifty behaviors.
The cognitive energy literacy level is low, while the affective and behavioral literacy levels are high. An essential discovery in the development of policy and the planning of its enhancement is the alteration in energy literacy levels as a result of background variables and the interaction of dimensions. The research proposal in promoting energy literacy is to underscore the importance of its comprehensive dimensions and their interrelationships in relation to background variables. It is imperative to promote general education and socialization through education in schools and families.